Do I need to confess how I drive?

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AdamP88 said:
Exactly. And sometimes it’s completely justified! Sometimes other drivers and pedestrians do insanely stupid things and the only response is: WHAT THE HECK!!! BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!
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No, that is not the only response.

It is not only possible but indeed desirable for you to respond with patience and forbearance.

The car horn is provided so that you can warn others of danger. It is not to be used to express your impatience or displeasure.
 
I’m a horrible driver. I’m aggressive. I’m incredibly fast. I weave, I cut people off. I eat and use my phone while i drive, i may or may not have posted here while in traffic. Lol. And all of that doesn’t hold a candle to how dangerous 1 cab ride in Rome is…
 
GospelOfMatthew said:
  • Rev my engine occasionally
  • Take off from lights quickly
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One of the greatest virtues on the road is to drive predictably, that is, to drive in such a way that others can understand your intentions and predict your movements, so as to avoid confusion and collisions. Revving the engine and taking off quickly work against this – and, for that matter, rushing toward stop signs or red lights and braking at the last moment, not coming to a complete stop at stop signs, and failing to signal before turning or changing lanes.

This is a prudential matter that you really must take seriously, but I don’t think you need to confess it.
 
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Of course it would be. But the question was just about speeding, not endangering lives.
 
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GospelOfMatthew said:
Driving over the speed limit by 5-10 mph sometimes
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I have always liked this picture showing the impact of a car crash at particular speeds translated into a fall from the floor of a building. (note 50 kmh equals 31 mph/100kmh equals 62 mph)

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Points to think about:
-The speed limit is the maximum legal speed that you can travel at on a road in perfect conditions.
-Many drivers aren’t aware that they can be travelling at the speed limit and still be driving unsafely.
-Human bodies are not designed to be hurled against objects at speed, and the faster the speed, the more severe the injuries.
The probability of death for a pedestrian rises steeply from 10% at an impact speed of 30km/h to 70% at 50km/h.
 
Yes, those are against the law… in the UK it’s called driving without due care and attention. I dont know what it is in the US. But in my little prayer book conscience examen there’s a section which says ‘Have you driven dangerously or inconsiderately?’ so you can decide for yourself. But as a retired police constable I’d say any one fo those activities could get someone killed. I have come across fatalities over less. But of course you’ll need to want to make amends. It may not sounds serious to you… but spend the night sitting in your ER and see what you think of all the RTC’s coming (traffic accidents - not sure what you call them there) and they are seldom caused by big things…mostly tiny little inattentions.
 
Yeah, I was sent to the ER two years ago because someone rear-ended while texting at 50mph while I was dead stopped. Serious injuries do happen from very small things
 
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Bluebright said:
(traffic accidents - not sure what you call them there)
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Here as well they are called accidents, but we should recognize that in most cases the word is a euphemism. It would be more accurate to call them collisions. The word accident suggests there was nothing anyone could do about it. If a tire blows out, that could cause an accident. If someone had a collision while using their phone, you could call it inattention, distraction, or negligence, but not accident because it was a consequence of something which the driver chose to do.
 
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I’ve been known to confess my own version of road rage. Which is when I get cut off or when I see someone using their cell phone and I may swear a blue storm at them.

Going 5-10 miles over the speed limit? 90% of the time, I’m just matching speed to the traffic. No need to confess that one. Plus I think it is safer than being the guy that slows everyone down to the point where they’re all passing him and muttering imprecations as they go by.
 
Yes you are correct, they are called collisions here too… accident is an old fashioned term for them here too lol. My bad.
 
From what he posted, it doesn’t sound like he is a menace and a high risk driver. I highly doubt most Confessors would take what the OP posted and call it “grave matter”.
 
The way I see it driving and using transportation is an assumed risk. While it’s wrong to endanger others, most people are risking accidents all the time. From people who are beginners to the elderly. If it isn’t sinful for the little old lady we’ve all seen on the freeway then my 90 mph us fine!
 
Zzyzx_Road said:
Going 5-10 miles over the speed limit? 90% of the time, I’m just matching speed to the traffic. No need to confess that one.
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Really???.. Bye, then… driving on the interstate is an anagogical image of another “road” and the intentions of those on that road. It takes determination to go the other narrower way; it takes determined intention.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”
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I have to disagree with you here. If everyone is going 65 to 70 in a 55 mph zone, the person going 55 is causing a blockage and distraction which can cause an accident–I mean, collision.

This speed or that is not intrinsically wrong; what is wrong is endangering people by driving way out of the norm: weaving in and out speeds or speeds much slower than the traffic.
 
Annie said:
I have to disagree with you here. If everyone is going 65 to 70 in a 55 mph zone,
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And so you have believed the Mob argument -
But it is interesting, when I was also in that train of thought years back, it was interesting how we all slowed to 55 when we saw a Highway Patrol car. And I also do not know of any police officer or court that would dismiss your ticket if you were to offer the argument that "I would have been causing a blockage and distraction if I had observed the state statutes on speed; you should instruct the state to change the signs to read “speed minimum limit = prevailing traffic speed. Well, are you now going to void the ticket? dismiss the case?”

If you really, really, really believe your argument, then don’t slow down upon the sight of patrol cars, and refuse to pay your tickets. Seriously! Are you willing to try to persuade us to disobey traffic signs, but not willing to go the distance yourself?
 
I think you are worrying about the wrong thing. Direct your focus, instead, to if you are being safe and driving with manners. When it comes to driving maneuvers, if you wouldn’t do it at the grocery store with your grocery cart, then don’t do it when you are in the car on the road. Don’t cut people off, try to intimidate them by making loud noises, gesture, etc. In other words, have manners.

If you can’t drive safely and courteously, stay off the road. Some here seem to be quite proud of their poor driving habits. Don’t go that route. It isn’t cool. Most girls don’t like it, either, and will consider you an
a-hole for driving like that.
 
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Generally police officers do not give tickets unless the people are going 10 miles over the speed limit, and I have certainly seen many groups of people going over 10 miles over who have been ignored by the police. The police tend to go for those who are weaving in and out at speeds much higher than the prevailing speeds.

And if I had ever gotten a ticket going the prevailing speed, I probably would have argued that.

Everyone’s slowing down to avoid a ticket does not mean that going slower than the prevailing traffic is safe; it just means people don’t want to get a ticket.
 
Nobody WANTS a ticket. But I’ll tell you I know I deserve one. I’ve been pulled over and let off with a warning for a couple years now. I’ll eventually get a ticket. And I’m fine with that. I’ll probably even curb my speed fir a while. But until then " vroom vroom" in my big old white van!
 
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